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On-line transactional display with multipe data type entry facility

On-line transactional display with multipe data type entry facility description/claims

The present invention relates to on-line transactional systems, and particularly although not exclusively to an interface and architecture of an on-line transactional system for receiving instructions for filing of intellectual property rights

The internet operates by a system of URL addresses, being unique codes which identify individual computer devices. A typical URL consists of a sequence of numbers which can be assigned to a particular computer entity as that computer entity's Internet address. However, URLs are more or less meaningless to typical human users of the internet, being simply a sequence of numbers with no readily understandable meaning. Consequently, domain names have been created which comprise text characters in a form more understandable to humans. Domain names include such things as personal names, company names, invented names and the like. Domain names are assigned to individual URLs by a central authority, and domain names can be applied for by natural persons and legal entities on a first come first served basis. Typically to apply for a domain name registration, a user accesses a web site, types in the required domain name into a search engine, the search engine compares that domain name with a list of already assigned or reserved domain names, and if an identical match is found, registration is not available. Registration of domain names is based upon a simple comparison of a first text string representing an applicant's desired domain name, with a series of second text strings, representing domain names which have already been registered to other users. The comparison of first and second text strings is to find an identical match (where upper case and lower case characters are assumed identical and the matching process is case independent).

In the early days of the internet, domain name registration was a relatively simple process: the domain name was either available, i.e. not already registered to someone else, or was unavailable i.e. already registered to someone else. However, subsequently the legal protection of domain names has become more legalistic, as owners of preexisting trade marks and brands have challenged domain name registrations of third parties which are identical or similar to those trade marks or brands. However, the basic process for registration of domain names is still on a first to file basis.

On the other hand, legal protection of trade marks has a history going back centuries, and has always been fragmented, with each country or state having its own trade mark laws and system for registration of trade marks. There is a legacy history of different legal systems, and different registration processes in each country or state, which has given rise to separate legal specialisms in each state, with legal practitioners practicing as trade mark attorneys, knowing the individual quirks of each legal system under which they operate. Whilst domain name registration has, from the outset, being carried on on-line and remotely, historically, trade mark registration is a paper based system, which is time consuming and non uniform throughout the world. However, for some legal systems, notably the United Kingdom and Europe, the trade mark registration process is becoming easier, with examination requirements and search requirements being relaxed.

Consequently, whilst domain name registration and trade mark registration are still two very different procedures, there is convergence between the two procedures in that domain name registration is becoming more legalistic, whilst trade make registration is becoming less legalistic.

Filing a trade mark application is an intrinsically complex process, due to the wide variety of information parameters which need to be collected in order to complete a filing, and due to the various permutations of legal protocols and procedures which can be used. For obtaining trade mark protection, conventionally a client instructs a trade mark attorney or solicitor by telephone, who then advises on a best course of action, and enters a sometimes lengthy correspondence concerning cost, goods and services, and advice on various options for achieving the same filing objective. Whilst it is possible to achieve a trade mark instruction by a single telephone call from a client, it is still common for a client wishing to register a trade mark to experience delays of days, weeks, months, or in bad cases even years between initial contact with a legal practitioner, and a trade mark application actually being filed at a government office.

More recently, it is known to find on the internet web sites through which a trade mark application can be made. Some of these web sites are operated by commercial organisations, that is trade mark attorneys and law firms, whilst others are operated by government offices themselves, for example the Canadian Trade Marks Office. An example of a prior art commercial web site for applying for trade mark rights over the internet is trademarksonline.com. This web site allows filing of a trade mark application in a single country. Details of the mark, specification of goods or services, applicant name and address, and credit card details are input into the web site on-line by a user.

A basic technical problem is how to provide an interface which collects the bare minimum amount of information in order to successfully automatically complete an order, without the process reverting to an off line process. Once a process reverts to a non automated off line process, then the costs associated with dealing with a trademark filing escalate rapidly, and the probability of achieving a successful order reduce, compared to the certainty of an automated online order for filing a registered trademark application.

Problems which need to be overcome to provide a user interface capable of receiving instructions to file a trade mark application include: Users of the system have a range of modern and/or legacy browsers, and have a range of monitor visual display sizes. Typically, in a worst case a user may have an cut of date browser, and a small 15 inch (38 centimeter) diagonal monitor, giving a small visual area in which to display information describing a selection of countries, and allowing little space for entry of data describing a trade mark. An operator of an on-line service for filing intellectual property rights has no control of the browsers or visual display devices of the users, and must design a system which works well with a wide variety of browsers and monitor screens. A significant barrier to implementing an on-line trade mark registration service, is the wide variety of signs or indications which can be classified as a trade mark. For example, under European trade mark law, sounds, smells, images such as logos or devices, shapes, smells, colors, words and personal names, can all be registered as trade marks, provided they are capable of distinguishing between the origins of goods and services. Designing an interface which is easy to use, and which is capable of inputting data describing any type of trade mark is a technically challenging problem.

To the best of the inventor's knowledge, there is no on-line interface, which is capable of handling any type of representation of a trade mark for which legal protection may be sought.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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